Empowerment, Enrichment & Education

Be Healthy Tuesday: Breakfast Options

Have you ever considered where the word breakfast comes from? I had a 5th-grade teacher, one among the many great teachers I have had the opportunity to experience learning with and she would remind us regularly. “Breakfast is a compound word students'”, she would say. The word breakfast literally means “to break-fast”. When we wake in the morning, we have fasted all night. Because of this fasting period, it is imperative that we fuel our bodies in the morning. Over the years, I’ve come to understand the importance of that statement/ sentiment.

When we start our day without breakfast we are essentially starting out with no fuel. Some may say, “I don’t like breakfast” or “I don’t have time for breakfast”, however, when we skip this meal we end up irritated, tired and less able to take in information accurately due to stress hormones in our body.

The facts are pretty clear. Research shows that people who eat breakfast are:

more likely to achieve higher grades and pay closer attention

more likely participate more in discussions, and manage more complex problems than those that skip breakfast

less likely to show erratic eating patterns throughout the day

Ideas for healthy breakfast meals include whole grain waffles with peanut butter and fruit. Fresh fruit, a fruit and veggie smoothie, egg white omelet, and even try egg muffins. Egg muffins are a good option. It consists of eggs with whichever add-ons such as onion or mushrooms and baked in muffin tins for 15 minutes. It’s an easy fix that can be premade and refrigerated for “grab and go” each morning.

Start each day with a healthy breakfast. Something to add some fuel to the body to help it run more efficiently and increase brain power.

I love this! I cannot agree more, especially with putting it in the context of the school and learning environment. As a mother, I definitely love to make sure that my son eats breakfast at home because I can monitor his food better. He is a BUSY brown boy, so I am cautious of what he eats in particular because certain foods can also cause hyperactivity. And of course, we know the high risk of black and brown boys being diagnosed with ADHD and etc. because of their “impulsive behavior” in the school setting. Which often makes me cringe when I look at school menus and options.

While many schools are doing better with healthy lunches, and stressing the importance of getting fruit and veggies, they still provide processed foods and foods that are high in preservatives and sugar. Granted, it is not the schools’ responsibilities, but many families rely on the meals provided by the schools because of their economic situation or because the school serves underserved or low-income communities. Just a little “food for thought.” Thanks for sharing!

I like that “food for thought” Pun intended. lol. And that’s so true. Often a meal in school consists of a piece of fresh fruit, fruit juice (always 100% but that’s high in sugar), some type of muffin, french toast stick, pancake or other carb (which breaks down to sugar) and milk. That can be a lot of sugar like you said, especially when you add condiments to it. Thank you for your comment. We appreciate your feedback.

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lnfuturelpc

As an RS Counseling & Wellness intern, I am excited to have the opportunity to blog on a subject dear to my heart. Starting with healthy eating, the impact it has on emotional health and general wellness tips.
View all posts by lnfuturelpc

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